Connector for bed sections



Dec. 7, 1943. E. H. ANDERSON 2,335,897 T CONNECTOR FOR BED SECTIONS Filed Oct. 15, 1940 m a??? l .EE-HZ' Patented Dec. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE coNNEcr-oRroR BED SECTIONS Ernest H. Anderson, Jamestown, N; Y. Application October 15, 1940 Serial No. 361375 2, Claims.

able with the head or foot section of a bed. The

fastener may be incorporated in any conventional side or display rail, as desired, and serves therewith to connect and rigidly secure the head and foot sections in desired uprightspaced relationship. One object of the invention lies in the provision of .a fastener 'for railsthat may be engaged with conventional members in the head and foot sections of a bed. 7

Another object'of the invention lies in themevision of a fastener and rail adapted to rigidly secure the headand foot sections of a bed in upright spaced relationship.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a rail fastener that is adjustable to produce a clamping effect as between the head or foot section and the corresponding rail end.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a rail fastener that is extendable beyond the rail end to engage a conventional member of a head or foot section and in turn be retracted to efiect pressure abutment of the head or foot section with the corresponding .rail end.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a rail fastener that may be readily released from engagement with the head or foot section of a bed.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the head and foot sections of a bed secured in upright spaced relationship through the use of fasteners embodied in a short rail;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the rail and fasteners as applied to the head and foot sections of a bed, parts being broken away to disclose certain details of the structure; Figure 3 is a plan view of the rail and fasteners showing the parts in the position of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of, a bed rail and fasteners prior to being applied to the head and foot sections of a bed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a fastener and rail end illustrating the position of the parts during assembly; and

Figure 6 is a perspective "view of one of the fasteners removed from the rail.

Reference is particularly had to .the drawing wherein the numerals ID and H are employed to generally designate the head and foot'sections, respectively, of a bed. As is common in the manufacture of head and foot sections, each of the four posts I2 is formed with a verticalslot l3, transversely of which a pin 14 is secured. Some side rails are provided with two hook members, and slots l3, therefore, would be of greater length and provided with two pins l4 instead of one. The present invention is so designed as to be engageable with either of the pins in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter described.

For purposes of illustration, the side rail I6 is of the display type, as distinguished fromjthe conventional bed rail. However, it will be understood that the particular length, size, or contour of the rail is of no importance, since the invention is applicable to all types of rails without material alteration.

In the present modification of the invention, the rail I6 is formed from a suitable metal strip and terminates at its ends in right angle flanges I! that in turn are completed by further flanges 18. An angle plate l9, having flanges 2| and 22, is secured to the body of the rail adjacent flange I! in any suitable manner, as by welding. Bracket I9 is so positioned that flanges 2| and 22 thereof cooperate with flanges l1 and I8 to form a rectangular compartment 23. It will be noted that the end of flange l8 abuts flange 21 and these parts may be permanently secured, if desired, although it will be apparent from the further description of the invention that this is generally unnecessary. The flange 2| of the bracket may be of larger proportions than flanges I! or 18 for the purpose of providing a considerable area of abutment with the posts l2 of the head or foot section, and for convenience flange 22 may be formed with converging walls, substantially as shown.

Centrally of each flange 2! is a slot 24 through which a member 26 projects. The outer end of this member is formed with a hook 21, whereas the inner end terminates in a flange 28 through whieh a suitable aperture29 is made. A part of the member 26 and the flange 28 is located within the compartment 23. Anaperture 3| is made in the flange l'l, being substantially in alignment with the aperture 29 of the member 26. A bolt 32 is projected through apertures 29 and 3!, the

head 33 being positioned against flange 28, and the threaded end projecting exteriorly of the compartment 23. An expansion spring 34 encircles that portion of the bolt between flange 28 and flange ll. The end of the bolt is fitted with a wing nut 36.

When it is desired to set up the head and foot sections of a bed through the use of the present invention, the rail is moved to project the member 26 into the slot I3 for the purpose of engaging the hook 21 with the pin l4 (see Figure 5). It will be noted that flange 2| of the bracket I!) does not abut the post l2, but as the Wing nut 36 is rotated the member 26 is retracted or drawn inwardly of the compartment 23, causing the flange 2| to approach and ultimately abut the adjacent face of the post. The wing nut may be drawn down sufficiently to rigidly secure the rail end to the post. In this position it will be noted the spring 34 is compressed. It frequently occurs, when beds have been assembled for some period of time, that the parts become dirty and the hook cannot readily be disengaged from the pin of the post. Through use of the present in vention it is merely necessary to back off the wing nut 36 and the spring 34 is efiective to extend the member 26 relative to the bracket I9, thus instantly relieving the abutting pressure of the bracket and post and facilitating ready disengagement of the hook.

Although applicant has shown and described his invention as applied to only one type of rail and head or foot section, it will be understood that his structure is fully applicable to many other types of rails and head and foot sections and that any modification in the structure of the rail fastener for this purpose is contemplated insofar as such modification is within the spirit and scope of the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for connecting bed sections, a rail, flanges terminating an end of said rail, an

said rail.

angle plate secured to one of said flanges and the body portion of said rail, said plate cooperating with said rail end flanges to form an enclosure, an adjustable member disposed within said enclosure and having a hook portion projecting through and beyond said angle plate, a bolt joined to said member and having a threaded portion projecting through an opening in one of the rail end flanges, spring means carried by said bolt and being wholl located within said enclosure and normally urging said member into an extended position with respect to said angle plate, and a nut engaged with said bolt and hearing against a flange of said rail and operable to produce a tightening effect to withdraw said member inwardly of said enclosure against tension of said spring means.

2. A device for connecting bed sections in close proximity for display purposes comprising a short rail, laterally ofiset end flanges forming a part of said rail, angle plates secured in abutment with said end flanges and said rail, said plates serving to abut the bed sections and cooperating with said offset flanges to form enclosures at each end of said rail, adjustable hook members located within said enclosures, said hook members having portions projecting through and beyond said angle plates for engagement with pins carried by said bed sections, bolts joined to said members and having threaded portions projecting through openings in corresponding flanges of the rail ends, spring means carried by said bolts and being wholly located Within said enclosures and normally urging said hook members into extended positions with respect to the ends of said rail, nuts engaged with said bolts exteriorly of said enclosures and bearing against corresponding flanges of said rail, said nuts being operable when said hook members are engaged with said sections to draw said hook members inwardly of the enclosure and produce opposed pressure engagement of the bed sections with the ends of ERNEST H. ANDERSON 

